Difference between short list and waiting list

[Aweaston]

I am confused about these two terms.

My POI told me that I am on the short list. Does he mean

1. I can only be admitted if someone else declines

2. I'm on the admission list?

Thank you!

[CanadianHopeful]

 

It sounds like neither. It could be that your university has just narrowed down the applicant pool but has not made final decisions on which applicants to accept. So if they have a short list of 25 applicants, maybe only 15 will get accepted but they still haven't decided which of those 15 applicants it will be. If that makes sense. 

[Aweaston]

1 hour ago, CanadianHopeful said:

 

It sounds like neither. It could be that your university has just narrowed down the applicant pool but has not made final decisions on which applicants to accept. So if they have a short list of 25 applicants, maybe only 15 will get accepted but they still haven't decided which of those 15 applicants it will be. If that makes sense. 

Got you. Thank you!